What difference does a Media Fellowship make? Below are some of its impacts on Fellows, their institutions and media hosts.

How can doing a Media Fellowship impact on a career? What do Fellows really get out of the experience? Download our guide 'What’s the impact of a Media Fellowship?' and read the accounts of Media Fellows from 1987 to 2013.

Impacts on Fellows

• Better understanding of how the media work
• Understanding of how to get research across accurately with minimal 'spin'
• How to pitch a story to news editors
• How to write a good press release
• Improved writing skills
• Ability to work to tight deadlines
• Taking part in press conferences
• Increased confidence
• Wider understanding and appreciation of science beyond personal field
• Network of media contacts
• Ability to match photos with stories
• Experience writing for different audiences
• AV and TV technical skills
• Wider appreciation of new media (blogs, podcasts etc).

Impacts on Fellows' institutions

• Better promotion of institution through the media; greater links between press office and academics, new contacts, media workshops, greater understanding of the media process
• Increase in science communication activity
• Higher quality teaching
• Improved writing of funding applications
• Opportunities for cross-disciplinary work.

Impacts on media hosts

• Kept up to date with the work of practising researchers
• Fellows find a new angle and ask original questions about stories
• Access to new science and health story news
• Access to academic contacts
• Help researching stories, finding pictures and writing copy
• An extra pair of hands to report from the British Science Festival.